Kevin Farkas: Moving to the Ducati V2, still dreaming of MotoGP

Kevin Farkas won five races and finishes second in the Northern Talent Cup (now Moto4 Northern Cup) in 2022, scored several point finishes in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2023 and 2024 and raced in the Moto3 Junior World Championship in 2024 and 2025.

After that, though, the Hungarian rider born in 2007 moved on to a new challenge in 2026, by joining the V2 Future Champ Ducati Academy series in Italy. Racing with the Talmacsi Racing team and under the guidance of 2007 125cc World Champion Gabor Talmacsi, Farkas experienced constant progress throughout the season, until winning the final race of the campaign at Cremona. Moreover, on the same track and in the same year, he also made his debut in the FIM Sportbike World Championship, replacing injured Arai Agaska in the ProGP NitiRacing team (he finished the races in 21st and 20th place).

Palmen in Motorradsport had the chance to interview Kevin Farkas during the final round of the V2 Future Champ series at Cremona. And it was an interesting chat, where we touched many topics including the 2026 campaign, his career so far and more.

Kevin, the 2026 season brought a big change to your racing career. How did you enjoy it?

It's been a great year. I think we've had a pretty good learning curve. We started with a double P8 at the first round in Misano, and step by step we got into the fight for the podium. Obviously, it's not just the results that matter, but also all the stuff behind. I feel great with my team and together we made a lot of steps in the right direction.

What's your goal for the future, at this stage?

Survive 2026 (laughs, ed). Jokes aside, we still have a lot of options for next year, which is quite nice. We could move back to Moto3 or even try Moto2, but there is a very small door for that. We would also like to try the Sportbike category (which he did at the WorldSPB round at Cremona, replacing injured Arai Agaska, ed). In my mind, I still want to go back to the MotoGP paddock, because that's where I felt the best, but we will see.

After the future, a look at the past. How did you start racing motorbikes?

When I was like 4 years old, my dad had like a street bike. I was very interested in that, but meanwhile we were looking at other sports for me. I tried football, but we found out it wasn't the best fit for me: I could kick everybody's leg perfectly, but not the ball (laughs, ed). So we decided to stop, and then a friend of my dad's suggested to try minibikes. I tried in some place in Hungary...and I fell in love with it! In fact, I learned how to ride minibikes...faster than I did learn to ride a bicycle!

How were your first seasons in motorcycle racing?

I raced in some championship organized by the MAMS (the Hungarian Motorcycling Federation, ed), riding first a Yamaha PW50 and then a Honda NSF100. Then I moved to the Italian Championship with the Ohvale 190. I spent two years there and I especially enjoyed the second one, when I was racing in both CIV Junior and CNV (a parallel championship in Italy, ed)

Why did you choose Italy at that stage of your career?

It was a decision of Stefano Favaro, who was my manager at the time. He suggested that it's better to go to Italy, because the level is much higher than it is in Hungary. And it turned out to be quite fun.

And after that, you raced in the Northern Talent Cup in 2021 and 2022.

Yes, and I had two amazing years there. The second year was great, battling for the title with Rossi Moor. I especially enjoyed racing at Red Bull Ring in 2021, since I got my first win in the NTC there, and the one at Assen in 2022, besides the IDM, where everything clicked perfectly. I would also mention Race 2 at Le Mans in 2022: winning at such historic track, in front of so many people, was a unique feeling.

From there, you later moved to the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. How was your time there?

The first year was difficult. Racing with the top 26 teenagers from all over the world, on the way to MotoGP, is hard. Moreover, from 2023 to 2024 I had some changes in the team and that had an impact on me as well. If I could re-live it, I would definitely change a lot of things, also in my performance. Still it was great to race with people like Ángel Piqueras, Álvaro Carpe, Máximo Quiles and other strong riders now racing in Moto3 or Moto2.  

Then, in 2024 and 2025, you competed in the Moto3 Junior World Championship. What are your best and worst memories from that couple of years?

I would start with my worst memory from those days: the first weekend of 2024. It was definitely a punch in the stomach. I was new in the championship and I had no experience with the Moto3, since the Red Bull Rookies Cup bike is more similar to the European Talent Cup one than to the Moto3, in terms of power and handling. Still, I didn't expect not to even qualify for the races. It was a reality check.

On the other hand, my best memory is the 2025 season overall, with the SeventyTwo Artbox team. Working together with Emilio Alzamora was definitely a step above anything else, and he especially helped me improve the lines I followed on track. It was also great to work with such a professional crew and a great teammate like Brian Uriarte. 

Why weren't you able to continue racing in the Moto3 Junior World Championship, eventually joining the V2 future Champ series?

Because the team stopped. We wanted to continue working together, but some complications (issues between Emilio Alzamora and the Artbox team, ed) led to the closure of the team. So we decided to try something brand new, also because the results in JuniorGP were not that good.

And now you have Gabor Talmacsi as your coach. What have you learned so far from him?

I have learned that, instead of being angry for not getting good results, I should look at it from another perspective and give it another chance.

Who is your favorite rider?

Marc Márquez. I like him because of what he has achieved and of his mentality, always wanting to do his best and win, even if his right arm is affected by the injuries he had. To see him winning a championship again after all he had gone through, it's something far from humanity.

Can you know share your main strength as a rider, and the area where you most need to improve?

I will keep my weaknesses for myself, I don't want my rivals to know (laughs, ed). About my strength, I would say that I'm pretty consistent: when i reach a certain laptime, I can repeat it or be close to that for many laps.

In conclusion, Kevin, here is the "Thank You Moment".

I want to thank everybody, especially my dad, my team, Gabor Talmacsi, my mechanic and all my sponsors. I also thank the staff of Ducati and the V2 Future Champ series, including Michele Pirro for the great opportunity he gave to me. Finally, I am grateful to the Pakosta Riders Factory, because they helped me prepare for the season in winter.

Palmen in Motorradsport would like to thank Kevin Farkas for his time and Gabor Talmacsi for arranging the interview. Best wishes to both Kevin and the Talmacsi Racing Team for the next chapters of their stories.